Medieval squares, serious beer and chocolate in every town.
Belgium fits a lot of history into a small space. Brussels centres on the gilded Grand-Place, Bruges and Ghent are laced with canals and medieval guildhalls, and Antwerp mixes Rubens with fashion and diamonds. Around Ypres, the First World War cemeteries and the Menin Gate are deeply moving, while the forested Ardennes in the south offer hiking and kayaking.
Much of the pleasure is at the table: frites with mayonnaise, mussels, waffles, pralines and hundreds of beers served in their own glasses. Distances are short and trains fast, so city-hopping is easy without a car. May to September is best, with long evenings and café terraces; December brings Christmas markets, while the rest of winter is grey and damp.
Best time to visit Belgium
May, June, July, August.
Places to visit in Belgium
Bruges: A remarkably preserved medieval city of canals, cobbled squares and gabled houses in Flanders.
Brussels: Belgium's capital and the seat of the EU, with a gilded Grand-Place, Art Nouveau houses and serious food and beer.
Ghent: A lively university city with medieval towers, canal-side guildhalls and the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece.
Antwerp: A stylish port city known for Rubens, the diamond trade, fashion designers and a spectacular railway station.
Essentials
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Language: Dutch in Flanders, French in Wallonia and Brussels, German in the east; English widely spoken
Plugs: Type C / E, 230 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC+1
Tipping: Service is included; round up for good service
Getting around: Frequent trains link every major city within a couple of hours
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking